A novel role for the transcription factor HIF-1α in the formation of mast cell extracellular traps.

Katja Branitzki-Heinemann, Cheryl Y Okumura, Lena Völlger, Yuko Kawakami, Toshiaki Kawakami, Hassan Y Naim, Victor Nizet, Maren Von Köckritz-Blickwede

Index: Biochem. J. 446(1) , 159-63, (2012)

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Abstract

MCs (mast cells) are critical components of the host innate immune defence against bacterial pathogens, providing a variety of intra- and extra-cellular antimicrobial functions. In the present study we show, for the first time, that the transcriptional regulator HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) mediates the extracellular antimicrobial activity of human and murine MCs by increasing the formation of MCETs (MC extracellular traps).